Portsmouth police being forced to ask other forces for help reveals city’s rough deal

MP for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, has called on the Government to take urgent action to address the imbalance in police funding for Hampshire.

The Government’s national funding formula for policing has led to Hampshire Constabulary losing almost 1,000 officers amidst a 10% rise in crime in Portsmouth. What’s more, the local policing budget is set to be slashed by a further £25 million over the next four years. This summer, Hampshire Constabulary was forced to ask for mutual aid from other forces.

Olivia Pinkney, Chief Constable, has warned that pressure on officers has ‘never been higher’, adding, ‘we’ve been open about the fact that pressure on operational policing in Hampshire has never been higher.’

‘We have repeatedly made the point that national funding for policing does not deliver a fair deal for the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.’

The national audit office has recently reported that the Home Office’s decision to take a light touch approach to overseeing police forces means it does not know if the police system is financially sustainable.

Mr Morgan regularly meets with the police chiefs and the Police Federation and goes out on patrol with local officers in Portsmouth.

He has repeatedly lobbied the Home Secretary and Prime Minister for fairer police funding, raising the issue in numerous letters and at Prime Ministers’ Question Time and holding a summit in Westminster with small businesses affected by the rise in crime.

Stephen Morgan MP, said:

“I’m fed up of Portsmouth being treated as the poor relation of other areas, especially when it comes to keeping our communities safe.

It’s shameful our local constabulary has been forced to ask other forces to help plug the gaps and that the Tories continue to insist that it’s business as usual. Crime is rising and resources shrinking – it’s not good enough.

The Chief Constable is right to raise this issue. I’ll continue to fight for her officers and the local people they protect.”